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en-usCopyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/uk-tv-presenter-delivers-chilling-verdict-on-violent-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/uk-tv-presenter-delivers-chilling-verdict-on-violent-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/uk-tv-presenter-delivers-chilling-verdict-on-violent-games/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Hacks, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360Call it a hunch, but we're not convinced that UK television presenter, Anne Diamond, is an ideal choice to "review" games which she says make her "hair stand on end." Though she brushes off several titles which are "so mindless it would be hard to see them as a destructive influence," the ones with "gratuitous use of violence and bloodthirsty imagery" really draw her ire. Honestly, we'd be bitter too if we had copies of Dead Rising LODGED IN OUR SHOULDERS.

In a response to Thursday's publication of a Dr. Tanya Byron-led review of video game violence, the UK's Daily Mail has delivered a one-two punch of sensationalist misinterpretation ("allowing children to play on computers unsupervised is as dangerous as letting them play outside on their own") and misguided scaremongering, offering the task of analyzing and rating already-rated violent video games to Diamond. Her "chilling" verdicts are all neatly assembled below a snap of kids playing the infinitely sinister Mario Kart 64.

After glossing over Dead or Alive 4 (she wasn't keen on playing as "a martial artist in the fantasy Ninja-style mode"), she becomes truly horrified by a game that "wallows in violence for violence's sake." This dubious honor goes to Resident Evil 4 which, in case you forgot, is about "a cataclysmic chemical attack" spawning legions of zombies which "don't stop until you shoot them in the face or slash their arms off."

"This game shouldn't be allowed to be sold, even adults," says a Diamond in the rush to pass judgment. After being "stabbed to death with pitchforks amid fountains of [her] own blood," she calls it quits and declares, "This kind of violence can only be bad for you." Well, that's what the healing herbs are for, Anne.

Before the deluge of Super Smash Bros. Brawl information following the Japanese release, we were still all hoping to see Mega Man, Leon Kennedy, or maybe even Ryu appear in the game's sizable roster. Now that the dust has cleared, with no Capcom characters in sight, the only question left to ask is: why?

While Nintendo has the right to be peeved about the broken exclusivity agreement, the addition of Capcom's franchises to the Brawl lineup could have only benefited Nintendo, and created more hype for the title (if that's even possible). While we're a bit unsure whether to buy into this rumor, if true then we can only hope that Capcom and Nintendo kiss and make up in time to offer some new characters as downloadable content (hey, we can dream, can't we?).

Update: Slight factual error corrected; Capcom announced the PS2 version prior to the release of the Gamecube version. [Thanks, 2bit]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brawlcapcomGameCubenintendoresident-evil-4residentevil4rumorssmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsmashbrossmashbrosbrawlssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawlWiiMon, 04 Feb 2008 06:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/02/four48-crew-takes-on-the-world-in-resident-evil-4-race/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/02/four48-crew-takes-on-the-world-in-resident-evil-4-race/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/02/four48-crew-takes-on-the-world-in-resident-evil-4-race/#commentsFiled under: CultureWith three marathon gaming sessions neatly tucked under their belts, the Four48 crew are starting to get a little overzealous. Attempting to beat four Zelda games in forty-eight hours was a lofty enough goal -- but for their latest effort to raise cash for Child's Play, they're attempting to establish global domination by besting seven other teams in a race through Resident Evil 4.

The first team to cross the finish line (via jet ski, if memory serves) nets themselves a copy of No More Heroes, along with bragging rights in the rapidly expanding competitive marathon gaming scene. As always, you can watch their live webstream to see if the Four48ers can back up their boasts -- that is, if you can stand ten straight hours of listening to the death rattles of Spanish pseudo-zombies.

For a port of a two-year-old game, RE4: Wii Edition didn't have a whole lot going for it. It had the same extra features as the PS2 port of the game, not-so-updated graphics, and slightly lower reviews than its original iteration -- and yet, somehow, just by changing how the game is controlled, Capcom created an entirely new adventure. When the peculiar controls for the Wii were first announced, this is the type of interactivity that I imagined from the future games for the system -- responsive, accurate, and realistic. The only way they could have made the gunplay feel any more natural would have been to package the game with an actual gun, which you shot at the on-screen zombies. Once.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best-of-the-rest-2007Blue-DragonBlueDragonCrackdownDSGH3GOTY-2007Guitar-Hero-3GuitarHero3MassEffectPokemonPuzzle-QuestPuzzleQuestResident-Evil-4ResidentEvil4The-BigsTheBigsWiiXbox-360Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/best-of-2007-worst-attempt-at-a-cash-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/best-of-2007-worst-attempt-at-a-cash-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/best-of-2007-worst-attempt-at-a-cash-in/#comments
During 2007, lots of companies realized that the Wii was doing good. Perhaps, too good. So, they scrambled to make games that they could port or "enhance" for the Wii, or other games that were made to take advantage of the console's adopters who were new to gaming and thus susceptible to spending money on crap games the unique capabilities of the Wii's controls scheme, causing a slew of cash-ins on the console that didn't necessarily bring anything new to the Wii other than another game sitting on the shelf. So, let's look at those games and you tell us what the most shameless and useless game of the lot is.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armageddonbest-of-2007capcomcarnivalgameseaeaplaygroundghostsquadlegolegostarwarsmarioandsonicmkmortalkombatmysimsnamcore4residentevil4segaWed, 19 Dec 2007 18:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/buy-the-last-copies-of-these-cheap-games-at-best-buy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/buy-the-last-copies-of-these-cheap-games-at-best-buy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/buy-the-last-copies-of-these-cheap-games-at-best-buy/#comments
As one of those irritating "Black Friday" deals that gets desperate people outside at 4am, Best Buy will be offering four Wii games at a discounted price of $19.99 on Friday and Saturday. The selection includes enough of interest to make it worth leaving your family on Thanksgiving night to go camp out in front of an electronics store! If anything is.

We won't speak for Rapala Tournament Fishing! or Brunswick Pro Bowling, although if you're going to buy those, you might as well do it at a reduced price. More likely to be cared about is Sonic and the Secret Rings, which might well be $20 worth of game. The best deal is Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition, which, at $20, is about what you'd pay for a new copy of RE4 on the GameCube. If you don't see these on the shelves, just wait until a blueshirt comes by with the "last one" of the game you're looking for.

Looks like the spit and polish Capcom put on Resident Evil 4 for the Wii paid off as the game has shipped one million units worldwide. It seems we're now able to say that the Wii version of RE4 brought the old game back from the bargain bin grave and gave it life once more at a consumer friendly $30 price.

Capcom plans to keep showing that third party developers can cash in on the Wii with the launch of Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles on Nov. 13 and We Love Golf early next year. It's worth noting that Capcom really has been the publisher to watch on new consoles. So far they've had numerous million sellers this generation like Dead Rising and Lost Planet -- well, at least outside of Japan.

An author on left-leaning AlterNet.org not only jumps on the controversy of Resident Evil 5's alleged racism, but calls it a "racist video game series." The article is such a mess that you really have to enjoy it for its absurdity. The piece starts by saying those who go to see the "blockbusterResident Evil: Extinction" in the theaters may want to play the game, but those who do "will likely enter a world little-known beyond the expensive and expansive universe of gaming, a world increasingly populated with very dangerous depictions of nonwhites."

The author only covers RE4 and RE5 in declaring the series racist. For RE4 he says its Spaniards have "stereotypical Mexican accents" and that RE5 "could be a training video for a white supremacist race war or another U.S. military adventure in one of the increasing numbers of deserts on the planet." Beyond the Resident Evil series there is a rehash of the Haitian controversy from GTA: Vice City -- although the author is way off in his timeline calling GTA: VC "this year's most popular video game."

There's a lot more "racist" issues brought up, but the article really stands as great piece to highlight how even when you introduce diversity to gaming, it's not just the extreme exclusionists who get upset and don't understand why there are women, gays, non-whites in games, but the extreme inclusionists too. Although in the inclusionist's case they want a rosy picture painted of the non-majority group; however, that's boring for narrative, unrealistic and in the end racism really depends on context. There are more moderate views on race issues in video games and that really shouldn't be forgotten. The AlterNet article is just so weird in its "one step forward, two steps back" presentation, we can't help but share.

Factor 5 president Julian Eggebrecht sees potential in the Wii's graphical hardware, despite its technical inferiority to its competitor's consoles.

Speaking to RevoGamers, Eggebrecht laments how Wii titles whose aesthetic is more geared toward "traditional, more photorealistic" visuals do not push the hardware. "There you really have to push it," he said, "and they're really not pushing it. Why not? Hmmm. I don't know, the hardware is very, very easy to understand."

As for the reasons, Eggebrecht speculates it's a mixture of developer's laziness and a publisher's unwillingness to provide a large enough budget, both related to the Wii's image. Factor 5 has previously shown the GameCube hardware more than capable of gorgeous visuals with the Rogue Squadron series, and Capcom has also shown off technical prowess with Resident Evil 4.

If more games show off the Wii's graphical capabilities and consumer expectations increase, perhaps developers and publishers might be more eager to step up their own visuals / budgets. Imagine the possibilities now that there's more memory (and duct tape!).

As for returning to work with Nintendo, Eggebrecht showed willingness but revealed no plans. "We're honestly at this point thinking about several titles in development and we haven't settled quite yet on which platform or which platforms if one of them is," he said. "So might be PS3, might be Wii... we're totally open to that."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>factor5julianeggebrechtnintendoresidentevil4roguesquadronWiiWed, 12 Sep 2007 13:55:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/capcom-stock-hits-five-year-high-boosted-by-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/capcom-stock-hits-five-year-high-boosted-by-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/capcom-stock-hits-five-year-high-boosted-by-wii/#commentsFiled under: Nintendo Wii, BusinessCapcom's shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose to 2,855 yen at close today, the publisher's highest close since September 26, 2002, according to Bloomberg. The stock has risen 14 percent in the last two days and 33 percent this year.

The good fortune has been attributed to sales of Resident Evil 4 for the Nintendo Wii, which is selling well worldwide, and expectations that the publisher's annual sales will rise 11 percent as it doubles the number of Wii titles it releases to six. Much of the increase, Bloomberg implies, is attributed to Capcom's vocalizing support for Nintendo's console.

In November 2002, around the time of Capcom's last share high, the company had opened CE Europe Ltd. in London.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biohazardcapcomjapanresidentevilresidentevil4WiiTue, 11 Sep 2007 14:25:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/18/poll-the-best-in-motion-controls-so-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/18/poll-the-best-in-motion-controls-so-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/18/poll-the-best-in-motion-controls-so-far/#comments
For such a popular console that tries to offer something for everyone, the Wii also manages to be somewhat controversial -- and we're not just talking about Manhunt 2 here. The motion-sensing controls have been a bone of contention when it comes to nearly every game, even those people seem to enjoy. Some gamers find them awesome, and others ... not so much. We've selected six games which cover a range of game types (and aren't all first-party, either) as a measuring stick of what you think is best when it comes to Wii controls. We encourage you to vote early (and often!), but feel free to talk about other choices in the comments, as well as the reasons behind your picks.

You might have noticed that Wii Sports isn't on this list (and neither are several other well-received games!). We considered including it, because not everyone agrees that it works quite well as a showcase of the Wii control capabilities, but decided at the last minutes to include only non-bundled games. Feel free to voice your support for Wii Sports in the comments, however!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controlsCookingCooking-MamaCooking-Mama-Cook-OffCooking-Mama-LtdgodfatherLegendOfZeldamadden07Majesco-EntertainmentMinigamesresidentevil4secondopiniontraumacentertwilightprincesswaggleWed, 18 Jul 2007 16:50:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/wrup-its-going-to-be-a-tough-month-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/wrup-its-going-to-be-a-tough-month-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/wrup-its-going-to-be-a-tough-month-edition/#comments
Prepare yourselves for a very dry month, one lacking any kind of relief brought by new games. It's looking like we won't get anything new to play until the end of the month and, with the holiday having just passed, we're pretty much done with Resident Evil 4 as we found ourselves having some of that elusive free time.

What about you folks, though? Will you have enough games to get through this month? What are you playing?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendonintendowiire4residentevil4wiiwrupFri, 06 Jul 2007 12:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/wii-warm-up-acceptable-ports/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/wii-warm-up-acceptable-ports/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/wii-warm-up-acceptable-ports/#commentsWe talked about this a little a few months back, but now that we've seen that a waggle-port can be done quite well thanks to Resident Evil 4, we thought it might be a good time to revisit this topic. Are you a little more inclined to be curious about ports with new controls now? And since you know there will be ports, what would you like to see redone for the Wii? What games do you think could really benefit from the addition of motion-sensitive controls?

According to the rest of Hastings's weekly ad, there's a buy-1-get-2nd-for-free sale on body jewelry, so be on the look out for that deal too! Put away the other two RE4 games you've already bought for previous platforms, throw on a shirt that shows off your belly-button-ringed midriff, and check past the post break for the full flyer.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomdealdealsexchangehastingslegend of zeldaLegendOfZeldanintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiipaper marioPaperMarioportportsre4resident evil 4ResidentEvil4spmsuper paper marioSuperPaperMariothe legend of zeldaTheLegendOfZeldatptradetwilight princessTwilightPrincesswiizeldaFri, 22 Jun 2007 16:10:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wrup-suplex-a-zombie-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wrup-suplex-a-zombie-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wrup-suplex-a-zombie-edition/#comments
We only had one game release this week, but it's one we've been anticipating for awhile now. This weekend, we plan on getting knee deep in crazed villagers and playing through this excellent game again. We did turn it on for a few minutes, just to check out the new controls, and we liked what we played.

But, enough about us. What about all of you? Will you be playing Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition with us, or do you have another game (or games) on your mind?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomnintendonintendowiire4residentevil4wiiwrupFri, 22 Jun 2007 12:35:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/metareview-resident-evil-4-wii-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/metareview-resident-evil-4-wii-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/metareview-resident-evil-4-wii-edition/#comments
Shipping to retail shelves in the U.S. today, Resident Evil 4hasn't had a shortage of coverage here at Wii Fanboy. We love the franchise and were anxious to see how the already amazing game could benefit from the implementation of gesture-based controls. Not only that, but always having a reticle on-screen seemed like such a simple, yet necessary, improvement. We're glad to say that, according to the critics at least, the newest version of the game is quite good.

GameSpy (100/100) found themselves a perfect game: "The reason that the Wii version is the best is because the new control system makes the gameplay more enjoyable. Using both the Wii remote and the nunchuck, players will be able to perform all of the regular moves and attacks from before, only now they can do them in a more sensitive, accurate and pleasing fashion."

CVG (93/100) thinks the game has been improved: "It has the looks, it has the compelling level design, and it has the scary bits. Check, then: this is Resident Evil 4 all over again, but slightly better."

EGM (87/100) finds the new control scheme to be for the better: "Though they suffer a bit when things get hectic, the Wii-mote-enabled controls generally serve RE4 well: Aiming weapons, swiping your knife, and shaking off face-sucking nasties with real-world moves adds urgency to an already incredibly intense experience." [July 2007, p.82]

EuroGamer (70/100) says the Wiimote controls hurt the game: "It's just a shame that one of the best ever action games has become another casualty of the Wii controller. Indeed, for a controller that was supposed to herald a new dawn of inclusive gaming there are a lot of third-party publishers who have yet to get their heads round it."

This week's new batch of games marks the release of DiRT, once headlined by Scottish racer Colin McRae until he was deemed less popular than dirt for the US release. Those looking for something a little creepier may be happy to know that everyone's favorite smokey-voiced merchant has returned for the now-thrice-released Resident Evil4: Wii Edition. Otherwise, there's a rather nasty drought of new-gen games this week, though PC and portable consoles have plenty to play until next Tuesday. You can commence reading the release list starting .... wait for it ... now.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CodeMastersdirtDSnewgamesPCPS2PSPResidentEvilResidentEvil4WiiXbox-360Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:26:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/re4-on-the-wii-to-be-censored/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/re4-on-the-wii-to-be-censored/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/re4-on-the-wii-to-be-censored/#commentsSure, Resident Evil 4 may look the same on the Wii and GameCube, but it's contents weren't as uniform across its various regions of release. No, apparently the international version had the most violence and carnage in it, with the Japanese version receiving a trimming in that department. According to the latestThis Week in Japan piece over at Next Generation, a "great portion of the blood and gore has been excised from the game," further adding that "headshots no longer kill, limbs can no longer be shot off."

Personally, we're wondering if the individual who wrote this up has a lot of experience with the original Japanese version of Resident Evil 4. Surely, a compare and contrast of the games is in order as we find ourselves confused as to whether the already-censored Japanese version of the game has become more censored in its transition to the Wii or if it's the original censoring in place.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomnintendonintendowiire4residentevil4wiiWed, 06 Jun 2007 16:25:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/resident-evil-4-comparison-puts-two-gamecubes-taped-together-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/resident-evil-4-comparison-puts-two-gamecubes-taped-together-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/resident-evil-4-comparison-puts-two-gamecubes-taped-together-t/#comments
Turns out it's just one Gamecube! Either that or Capcom is lazy. The evidence to support either conclusion is found in this Gametrailers video, which compares the Gamecube and Wii versions of Resident Evil 4side-by-side. Major spoiler: they look exactly the same.

The sad part is, we actually don't know if the Wii can do better graphics than the original Resident Evil 4, because nobody has tried. Well, at least this version of RE4 has waggling. And it's not like the graphics were bad on the Cube or anything.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4evilgamecubegraphicsnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiirere4residentresident evilresident evil 4ResidentEvilResidentEvil4wiiWed, 06 Jun 2007 12:35:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/capcom-gives-you-the-chance-to-win-some-biohazard-gear/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/capcom-gives-you-the-chance-to-win-some-biohazard-gear/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/capcom-gives-you-the-chance-to-win-some-biohazard-gear/#commentsCapcom is offering up the chance at winning some goodies for its Japanese fans, namely a lucky 25 of those fans, themed after Biohazard 4. These items are some sweet pieces of gear, if we might say so, including a jacket modeled after Leon's and a pair of "Engineer Boots." Getting to this super-secret section of the website requires clicking on those little red blood cells floating around, but in the interest of saving you time, we'll just offer up a direct link to the page.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomleonnintendonintendowiire4residentevil4wiiThu, 31 May 2007 13:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/famitsu-gives-resident-evil-4-wii-a-9-5-out-of-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/famitsu-gives-resident-evil-4-wii-a-9-5-out-of-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/famitsu-gives-resident-evil-4-wii-a-9-5-out-of-10/#commentsFiled under: Nintendo Wii, Action, AdventureDespite being essentially a thrice-released game (previously on GameCube and PlayStation 2), respected Japanese gaming publication Famitsu gave the Wii iteration of Resident Evil4a 9.5 out of 10. The score is an average of four editors' score: two gave the title a 9, while two gave the game a perfect score of 10.

What's key to this review that Nintendo should be thanking Capcom for is how the editors laud the control system as easy to get into and making the game feel fresh and new. According to IGN, one reviewer noted that "game offers the feeling of being closer to the action as well as upping the tension," while another remarked that those who have played the game before will find something to enjoy.

Such words echo back to Nintendo's mantra of offering gamers something new and exciting, and this game seems to showcase that much like the GameCube version showcased a more mature, visually appealing side to that console. Now how about we see Capcom incorporate the control scheme for a future Wii title?

Resident Evil 4 for Wii is coming out May 31 in Japan. and June 19 in North America with a price well below standard Wii releases.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomfamitsuresident evilresident evil 4ResidentEvilResidentEvil4Wiiwii motewii remoteWiiMoteWiiRemoteTue, 22 May 2007 19:18:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/wii-and-capcom-so-happy-together/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/wii-and-capcom-so-happy-together/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/wii-and-capcom-so-happy-together/#commentsCapcom's Christian Svensson, Sr. Director of Strategic Planning & Research, recently sat down with Gamasutra to discuss everything from downloadable content to the company's increasing success in the West. Of course, the subject of the Wii came up, particularly in regard to original downloadable content. Original VC content may be an issue, Svensson said, due to file size limitations, but Capcom is also considering other options, like compilation titles for retail. We'd like to hear the word 'budget' in there somewhere, but it's too early to be cranky; we'll wait and see what they come up with.

Resident Evil 4 redux came up as well, and Svensson defended the company's choice to release the title on the GameCube originally. "A lot of people knock the decision to put it on GameCube, but at the same time, Resident Evil 4 was the number-one selling title for the GameCube in 2005, which is hard for a third-party," Svensson retorted, and we fully agree that that the combination of GC and Resident Evil 4 was a match made in heaven. We wait with bated breath for the Wii version.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomdownloadable contentDownloadableConnintendoresident evil 4ResidentEvil4virtual consoleVirtualConsolewiiThu, 17 May 2007 16:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/re4-wii-edition-plot-montage/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/re4-wii-edition-plot-montage/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/re4-wii-edition-plot-montage/#commentsIf you're one of the five people on the planet who have yet to make your way through Resident Evil 4, you definitely don't want to head past the post break. Thar be spoilers back yonder! But, for the rest of us who might be looking forward to the upcoming release of the Wii version and have beaten the game every which way but Sunday, the video is a nice, brief look at the game's characters and plot. There's also a few glimpses into the Ada Wong side missions, if you never got your hands on the PS2 version.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendonintendowiire4residentevil4wiiFri, 11 May 2007 16:35:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/resident-wii-vil-4-officially-priced-at-29-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/resident-wii-vil-4-officially-priced-at-29-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/resident-wii-vil-4-officially-priced-at-29-99/#commentsFiled under: Nintendo Wii, ActionThe idea of Resident Evil 4 for the Wii just got more tasty-like-brains delicious with the pricing pegged at $29.99. Capcom's official site priced the game confirming earlier reports of the low pseudo-budget price. The original Resident Evil 4 for Gamecube (which works fine on Wii, without waggle) and PS2 is budget priced at $20.

Now we wait until June to see if the Wii controls do the game justice. We already know we like the European boxart better than the American. Resident Evil 4 was arguably one of the best games of last-gen. If these tacked on Wii controls don't elevate the title, make gamers happy and, let's not forget, sell well, then RE4 for Wii may be another log on the Wii-fad bonfire. If it doesn't end up making the amazing RE4 even better, what was the point of birthing the Wii edition other than as a blatant money-grab?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomresidentevil4wiiFri, 04 May 2007 21:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/capcom-site-updates-with-re4-boxart-info/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/capcom-site-updates-with-re4-boxart-info/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/capcom-site-updates-with-re4-boxart-info/#commentsCapcom's U.S. website has updated it's Resident Evil 4 section with what we're assuming is the final boxart for the game. Also, the site lists some deets for the title, but we all pretty much knew what we would be getting with the Wii port, no? And, while we think it's some pretty neat boxart, we've seen better already.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomnintendonintendowiire4residentevilresidentevil4wiiFri, 04 May 2007 15:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/umbrella-chronicles-was-almost-like-re4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/umbrella-chronicles-was-almost-like-re4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/umbrella-chronicles-was-almost-like-re4/#commentsAnd what exactly do we mean by this? Well, Capcom almost decided to make Umbrella Chronicles the spitting image of Resident Evil 4, which you can bet we would've been totally on board with, but after seeing Nintendo's Wii console in action, the company decided to make it an on-rail shooter. While we could sit here with a frown on our face and pout about the possibilities that could've been, we'll just think about unicorns. And big, fluffy clouds.

The game's producer, Masachika Kawata, argued that the new direction is more fir for Wii owners, claiming the game would've been "too complicated to enjoy. Wii users like easiness. Umbrella Chronicles is not only for game enthusiasts. Complex operability can be an obstacle for Wii users. We want players to enjoy the game's horrifying and creepy world and its thrilling shooting action. By reducing enthusiast-only elements, players can purely enjoy the world." Personally, we like our games to have some depth and find ourselves disagreeing with his stance on the issue.

Just because the Wii has these amazing innovative controls and product that appeals to just about every person on this planet, doesn't mean you should totally do away with an already established hot product (Resident Evil 4 is set to grace three different systems and has sold how many copies?). Or, are we crazy and Capcom's decision is the more sound one from a business point of view?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomnintendonintendowiire4residentevil4umbrellachronicleswiiTue, 01 May 2007 22:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/19/and-the-odd-re4-ad-campaign-keeps-on-trucking/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/19/and-the-odd-re4-ad-campaign-keeps-on-trucking/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/19/and-the-odd-re4-ad-campaign-keeps-on-trucking/#commentsBy the looks of this advertisement for Resident Evil 4, it's pretty old. A commercial for the title in France, watching until the end shows us a GameCube box for the game and logo, so we're fairly certain this isn't for the new Wii version. Still, it has breast-feeding and is kind of in the same weird vein as the other advertisement, and ... well, we won't ruin the surprise. Check out the video past the break.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamecubenintendonintendowiire4residentevil4wiiThu, 19 Apr 2007 19:55:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/why-wait-for-re4-with-wiimote-controls-do-it-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/why-wait-for-re4-with-wiimote-controls-do-it-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/why-wait-for-re4-with-wiimote-controls-do-it-now/#commentsReader Tiger, who we all know loves working with GlovePIE (as evidenced by his work with Rez,Panzer Dragoon and House of the Dead 3), has made another script, implementing Wiimote controls into the PC port of Biohazard 4 (Resident Evil 4). Tiger's even gone ahead and matched the button mapping we reported on a few days ago, making his controls almost perfect to that of the Wii version due out (except for one flaw due to the limitations of the PC port of the game). Tiger has the script available for download via his site and also assures us he is working on adding sensor bar support.

We already posted about the antics of Biohazard 4 / Resident Evil 4 (same game, different names) in the Wii commercial, but a very enterprising individual has made himself a script that allows you to play the PC version with the Wiimote.

You can download the script and read all the details here. He's got more video goodness like the above, although no extremely white actors are in it with him blowing away home-invading hordes of the undead.

Describing Capcom's latest trailer for its Resident Evil 4 Wii port as corny would be an understatement. It would be more appropriate to liken the video to Iowa, the biggest corn producer in the United States. You could even describe the advertisement as Centeot himself, the Mayan god of corn. The corniness of this RE4 promotional clip runs so deep, it should come on a cob.

Playing the game with the Wii remote and nunchuck looks great, but we really can't get over the bad acting. We're not sure if this is the worst video we've seen all week, or the most wonderful! Jump past the post break to see the trailer in all its glory.

IGN has done the heavy lifting, converting Capcom's Japanese Wii controller diagram for the recently announcedResident Evil 4 into the familiar runes of the English language. If you've been curious to see how Capcom's going to adapt their Gamecube classic for the Wii -- and hopeful they do so with as much success as Twilight Princess and The Godfather: Blackhand Edition -- then try studying up. Notable "enhancements" include: shake the Wiimote to reload (complete with auditory confirmation), Wiimote-enabled Quick Time Events (take that Shenmue!), and pointing to aim.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomcontrolsGameCuberesidentevil4survivalhorrorWiiwiimoteMon, 09 Apr 2007 18:58:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/wii-warm-up-superfluous-waggle/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/wii-warm-up-superfluous-waggle/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/wii-warm-up-superfluous-waggle/#commentsSome games, like the ubiquitous Wii Sports, use the Wiimote's space-age technology to closely map real motion into gameplay. This is generally regarded as "neat" and accepted by the masses, who run off to show their grandparents.

Other games, like the upcoming port of Resident Evil 4, make no such attempt to represent physical motion as virtual motion (outside of the new knife controls). In fact, some of the motion controls seem to be simulating button presses. Case in point, reloading requires you to hold B and shake the Wiimote. That's hardly more representative of the action of reloading a gun than pushing a button, or even going into a menu.

We sort of revealed how we felt there, but this isn't about us. It's about you. How does non-representative motion control affect you? Is it still fun to waggle, even when you're waggling abstractly?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biohazardcapcomevilnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiiportportsre4residentresidentevilresidentevil4wagglewiiwwuSat, 07 Apr 2007 10:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/friday-video-celebrating-violence/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/friday-video-celebrating-violence/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/friday-video-celebrating-violence/#commentsLook, obviously today's video is going to feature a little violence. You did see the title. It's right there. So you've been warned. Since this is a special Friday and the Wii Fanboy staff is pretty amped about a certain film, we figured it might be a good day to seek out a fun and gory video for this week's spotlight -- and conveniently, this week featured some news about a game that fits the bill perfectly. If you guessed Resident Evil 4, you win the prize! And what is the prize?

Uh.

Well, you get to watch the video! Yeah! Congratulations! It's after the jump, as per usual. And yes, we know. You've seen it before, because you probably played Resident Evil 4 a few times. You may have even seen this version, which features a particularly giggle-worthy song. But, really, if you need to be convinced to revisit Resident Evil 4, you may be in the wrong place, because it is the epitome of awesome.

Forget those blurry, half-folded over scans -- we've got crisp, clear scans filled with heart-pounding Resident Evil 4 shots ... and lots of Japanese text. But an inability to read the text never deters us from bouncing around excitedly. After all, we don't have to be able to read to see that there's waggle in them there scans, and the idea of an all-new RE4 experience is nothing but awesome.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionAda WongAdaWongCapcomLeonNintendoRE4Resident Evil 4ResidentEvil4scanWiiThu, 05 Apr 2007 13:10:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/famitsu-reveals-resident-evil-umbrella-chronicles-confirms-re4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/famitsu-reveals-resident-evil-umbrella-chronicles-confirms-re4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/famitsu-reveals-resident-evil-umbrella-chronicles-confirms-re4/#comments[Update 1: fixed the name of the DS game. Thanks, SnesR0X, and no thanks to the many similar DS-game subtitles!]

It's been a while since we had a directed blurry-Famitsu-picture staredown, and this one is, as usual, totally worth staring at.Famitsu printed a long-awaited look at Capcom's Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles, the Wii-exclusive RE-series-spanning game.

According to the article, it's a first-person gun shooting game with playable characters from past REs including Chris, Jill, Wesker, and others. Whether it's a true FPS or an on-rails affair like Resident Evil: Dead Aim remains to be seen.

Also in Famitsu was confirmation that Resident Evil 4 is getting an enhanced Wii release. Rumor has it that all the PS2 extras will be included, but the only definite is an added Wiimote-controlled knife mode. Sounds like RE Deadly Silence on the DS.

Pity the Resident Evil fanatic. Not only has the poor guy had to buy two chainsaw controllers and brave two Resident Evil movies (and now suffers cold sweats anticipating the third), but according to Famitsu, he'll now have to buy a third version of Resident Evil 4, this time for Wii.

An intrepid NeoGAF member translated the info from the most recent issue of the Japanese magazine. The new version (presumably the unannounced game that Capcom hinted at last month) uses the Wiimote for aiming, naturally, but also uses it for stabbing zombies, as God intended. There's no word yet on whether or not it will reach North America, but a listing for the game briefly appeared on Gamestop's site, and the thing's already been localized once, so it would seem like a lock.

The scans say that the game will also include a trailer for Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles which we know is due out before the end of 2007. Also, the Gamestop listing had the game set for June 25, so maybe you'll be whiling the summer days away holed up, slashing zombies -- suntan be damned!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomfamitsuresidentevilresidentevil4umbrellachronicleswiiWed, 04 Apr 2007 10:27:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/03/wii-warm-up-revamping-games-for-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/03/wii-warm-up-revamping-games-for-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/03/wii-warm-up-revamping-games-for-the-wii/#commentsWe talked about reusing assets already, but this kind of falls under a different topic. We're talking about GameCube games and even games on other systems being revamped for use on the Wii. The recent rumors regarding a new port of Resident Evil 4 showing up on the Wii, with revamped controls natch, is what got the metaphorical hamster running on the wheel in our head. Trust us, don't look in there, you won't find a single hamster (lots of other rodents in there, though).

So, we were wondering if there is a market for these types of games on the Wii? Certainly, a game such as Resident Evil 4 is going to sell in just about any incarnation it is presented (seriously, that game was amazing), but is there a market for other games like this? Would you be on board with other GameCube games being redone on the Wii? What third-party titles, that have graced other systems, would you like retooled with the Wiimote in mind?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendonintendowiire4residentevilresidentevil4wiiwwuTue, 03 Apr 2007 09:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/dream-games-resident-evil-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/dream-games-resident-evil-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/dream-games-resident-evil-4/#commentsDream Games is a new weekly column where we explore a game we'd love to see on the PSP. Feel free to check in, and comment, every Tuesday.

Resident Evil 4To kick-start this feature, I decided to shoot for the stars. Resident Evil 4 is without a doubt one of the finest games created in the last generation. The game completely reinvented the Resident Evil formula, placing the camera behind the game's protagonist, Leon, freeing the player from the notorious tank-like controls the series was infamous for. With its chilling enemies and brilliant gameplay, the game earned an impressive 96 average on Metacritic.

Why PSP?Resident Evil 4's behind-the-back perspective removes one of the greatest frustrations of most PSP action games: the lack of camera control. The Gamecube original rarely utilized the second analog stick, simply because it was unnecessary. The game's intuitive controls come from its simplicity: a single button controls much of the action that you'll need. Resident Evil 4 was one of the few games that ran in widescreen only last generation, making the PSP's 16:9 display even more ideal.

Is it possible?Although the controls may be well suited for the PSP, the game's technological requirements may mean this game will never see the light on our system. Capcom did an incredible job squeezing this game onto a PlayStation 2, and I doubt that their technical mojo would fail on the PSP. If a port of this fine game isn't being made, hopefully the PSP will see an original Resident Evil of its own: one that uses the same, elegant control scheme used by Resident Evil 4. And if we don't get Resident Evil, at least we can look forward to Silent Hill.

In her last several columns, Bonnie has talked about the role of effeminate men as protagonists in video games. In her examples, she's discussed threats to the heterosexual male archetype, and, I believe, has hinted at the possibility for an even more potent figure: the queer hero.

In my mind, the queer hero is almost a challenge to the industry, which so often writes archetypal characters for the sake of easy identification by their audience. Homosexuality has been present in video games for years, but often as a farce -- at best, a flamboyant frog in Rare's Banjo-Tooie but, at worst, figures to be ridiculed, as amusing as a minstrel show.

The queer hero is not merely "gay for gay's sake." Rather, I define the queer hero as a protagonist whose orientation is arguably less-than-normative, but which ultimately plays no part in the telling of his or her story. This automatically discredits the lipstick lesbians of Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix, whose "taboo" romance played an overt role in the game's marketing to a young male audience. No, the queer hero is, to put it simply, "cool," and seen as "cool" neither because of his/her sexuality, nor in spite of it.

Assuming this character couldn't possibly already exist, I've fantasized for years about the making of a truly great game, with a protagonist who just happens to be gay. But one random, crude webcomic made me double back on my assumption, and take a closer look at one of gaming's most popular franchises. In Resident Evil 4, Leon S. Kennedy, the once-rookie cop from RE2, returns to the series wearing blue-jeans and a bomber jacket -- dressed for success. I played through the entire game without giving it a thought, but looking back, I think I found my queer hero.